Index device

ABSTRACT

An index device including a locating or indexing pawl and a driving pawl, and means for effecting timed engagement and disengagement between said pawls and an index plate to maintain positive control of the index plate at all times.

Umted States Patent 1 1 1 1 Bassoff 51 Feb. 20, 1973 54] INDEX DEVICE3,242,746 3/1966 Seiden ..74 142 3,020,774 2 1962 K 11 ...74 1 lnvenw"3am, Oak Park Mich- 3,475,981 11/1969 74/11; [73] Assignee: LearSiegler, Inc., Santa Monica, I

Calif Primary Examiner-Milton Kaufman [22] Filed: Feb. 4, 1971 AssistantExaminerWesley S. Ratliff, Jr. [21] Appl No; "2,705 Attorney-Wh1ttemore,Hulbert & Belknap [52] US. Cl ..74/142, 74/825, 74/813 R [57] ABSTRACT[51] Int. Cl ..Fl611 27/02 Field 0f Search An index device including alocating or indexing pawl 325 and a driving pawl, and means foreffecting timed engagement and disengagement between said pawls andRelerences Cled an index plate to maintain positive control of theUNITED STATES PATENTS lndex plate at all t1mes.

3,141,356 7/1964 Herbkersman ..74/142 9 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures INDEXDEVICE BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The index device comprises atoothed index plate mounted for rotation and having adjacent itsperiphery a locating pawl movable into and out of engagement withselected notches or recesses on the index plate. A predeterminedrotation of the plate is effected by means comprising a driver having adriving pawl carried thereby and movable into and out of engagement withselected notches on the periphery of the plate. Means are provided forengaging the pawl on the driver with the plate before the locating pawlis released, and vice-versa. After the indexing pawl has engaged in anotch on the index plate, the locating pawl is removed, leaving theindex plate free for rotation by the driving pawl. The driver is thenrotated an adjustably predetermined increment.

The driver includes connections to means for effecting sequentialrelease and engagement of the pawls. After the driver has been moved toindex position it is moved reversely, this movement effecting sequentialengagement of the locator pawl and disengagement of the driving pawl.

With the foregoing arrangement the index plate is at all times engagedeither with the locator pawl or with the driver pawl so that it isalways under positive con trol.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a front elevation of theindex device. FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the device with parts brokenaway.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The index device comprises a frame on which ismounted an index plate 12 having a toothed periphery providing indexnotches or recesses indicated at 14. Associated with the index plate 12is a locating lever 16 which is pivoted to the frame 10 as indicated at18 and which carries a pawl 20 adapted to enter into one of the indexnotches 14 on the index plate to maintain the plate in a fixed indexposition. The lever 16 includes an arm 22 to which a spring 24 isconnected, urging the pawl 20 into engagement with the index plate.

The means for effecting index rotation of the plate includes mechanismsubsequently to be described, nut including a driving pawl 26 carried bya lever 28 which is pivoted to a driver 30 mounted for rotation on themain shaft 32, which establishes the index axis of the device. The lever28 includes to an arm 34 connected by a spring 36 to an arm 38 on thedriver, the spring biasing the lever 28 in a direction to engage thedriving pawl 26 in a notch on the index plate 12.

The lever 16, as best seen in FIG. 2, includes a projection 40 to theright hand end of which as seen in FIG. 2, the pawl 20 is connected forengagement with the index pate 12.

Mounted for rotation about the axis of the shaft 32 is an oscillatordisc 42 provided with ways 44 adapted to mount a cam plate 46 forvertical movement as seen in FIG. 1. The oscillator disc 42 is furtherprovided with ways 48 mounting a cam plate 50 for movement vertically asseen in FIG. 1.

The lever 28 which carries a driving pawl 26 also carries a roundedprojection 52 engageable with an arcuate surface 54 on the cam plate 50.The arrangement is such that as the cam plate 50 is moved verticallydownwardly from the position illustrated in FIG. 1, the pawl 26 ispermitted to move downwardly and drop into a notch on the index plate12.

Similarly, the lever 16 is provided with a rounded projection 56engageable with an arcuate surface 58 on the cam plate 46. Thearrangement is such that when the cam plate 46 is moved downwardlyfromthe illustrated position in FIG. 1, the locating pawl 20 is movedoutwardly of the adjacent notch or recess in the index plate, freeingthe index plate for index rotation.

The means for effecting index rotation of the index plate andcontrolling the necessary sequential movement of the cam plates 46 and50 comprises an actuator arm 60 pivoted as indicated at 62 on theoscillator disc 42. It includes an arm 64 by means of which it is movedin its indexing movement, and means are provided for coupling it to thecam plates 46 and 50 and to the driver 30.

The actuator 60 includes an arm 66 which is pivoted as indicated at 68to a link 70 which in turn is pivoted as indicated at 72 in a recess 74formed in one side of the cam plate 50. It will be apparent that if thelever 64 is swung counterclockwise downward movement of the pivotconnection 68 in an arcuate path about the pivot 62 will move the camplate 50 downwardly.

The connection between the actuator 60 and the cam plate 46 is similarbut specifically different. In this case the actuator arm 76 is providedwith a pin 78 movable in a slot 80 formed in a link 82 which is pivotedas indicated at 84 in a shallow pocket 86 formed in the side of the camplate 46. With this arrangement counterclockwise movement of theactuator 60 will first swing the link 82 in a clockwise direction aboutits pivot 84 until a side of the link 82 engages the right hand side ofthe recess 86 as seen in FIG. 1. Continued movement of the actuator 60will move the cam plate 46 downwardly, thus forcing the locating pawl 20out of the adjacent notch of the index plate 12.

By properly selecting the dimensions of the constructionsinterconnecting the actuator 60 to the cam plates, the necessarysequential action is readily obtainable. The necessary action is ofcourse that the driving pawl 26 must engage in a recess of the indexplate before the index plate is released for rotation by removal of theindex pawl 20 therefrom. Upon completion of the index operation theconverse is of course required; namely, that the index pawl enter intothe appropriate notch in the index plate before the driving pawl 26moves out of a notch on the index plate, preparatory to movement of theindex pawl to position to enter into the next appropriate index notch onthe plate.

The oscillator disc 42 has a projecting arm 90 carrying an adjustingscrew 92 which couples the oscillator disc to the driver 30. The screw92 enters a threaded nut 94 on the driver 30 and serves the additionalfunction of providing for circumferential adjustment of the driving pawl26 so that it is in proper registration with an adjacent index recess ornotch in the index plate 12.

The oscillator disc 42 is adapted to be oscillated by movement of theactuator 60 and for this purpose the oscillator disc is provided withabutments 96 and 98 which are adapted to be engaged by adjustableabutment screws 100 and 102 respectively carried by the lever 64 of theactuator.

The stationary frame carries a boss 104 carrying an adjustable abutmentscrew 106 which is engageable by a projection 108 formed on theoscillator disc 42. The boss 104 also is engageable by a surface 110 tolocate the oscillator disc 42 in the position illustrated in FIG. 1.

OPERATION With the parts in the indexed position illustrated in FIG. 1and with the index plate 12 retained in accurately index position by theindexed pawl 20, the indexing operation is initiated by swinging theactuator 60 in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot mounting 62by means of which it is connected to the oscillator disc 42. Thisinitial movement of the actuator 60 causes the arm 66 and link 70 topull the cam plate 50 downwardly to a point where the driving pawl 26enters into an adjacent recess in the index plate 12. Continued movementof the actuator 60 next effects downward movement of the cam plate 46.Specifically, this is caused by first swinging the link 82 about itspivot 84 until the right hand side of the link, as seen in FIG. 1,engages the side wall of the recess 86. This movement is of coursepermitted by reason of the elongated slot 80 in the link. Thereafter,further swinging movement of the actuator 60 forces the cam plate 46downwardly and through its engagement with the rounded projection 56,swings the lever 16 so as to retract the index pawl 20 from the indexplate. Thereafter, the adjustable abutment screw 100 engages the surface96 on the oscillator disc 42 and will rotate the oscillator disccounterclockwise until its movement is arrested by engagement betweenprojection 108 and stop screw 106. Movement of the oscillator disc 42 isof course imparted to the driver 30 and from it to the lever 28 anddriving pawl 26. When the projection 108 engages the adjustable stopscrew 106, the appropriate notich of the index plate is in registrationwith the retracted index pawl 20. At this time, clockwise movement ofthe actuator 60 results first in releasing the cam plate 46 so that theindex or locator pawl 20 may be moved by the spring 24 into properindexing relation with the associated notch in the index plate. This ofcourse firmly secures the indexed plate in index position. Furthermovement of the actuator 60 results in moving the cam plate 50 upwardlyso as to disengage the driving pawl 26 from the index plate. Thereafter,further movement of the actuator 60 swings the oscillator disc 42 in aclockwise direction until such movement is terminated by engagementbetween the surface 110 thereon with the boss 104, at which time thedriving pawl 26 will be in proper registration with the next recess onthe index plate to be engaged in the next following index operation.

With the foregoing construction it will be observed that simpleconnections to the means for controlling the position of the index orlocating pawl and the driving pawl insures that the driving pawl isengaged in a recess in the index plate prior to disengagement of theindex pawl and that conversely, after indexing movement the index pawlis moved into engagement in the appropriate recess in the index platebefore the driving pawl is retracted.

The actuator may be operated manually although the mechanism is ofcourse capable of being connected to suitable automatic means foreffecting movement of the actuator 60 automatically in timed relation toa sequence of machine operations such for example as strokes of a geargrinding machine.

It will be apparent that while the mechanism has been illustrated anddescribed for performing indexing operations resulting incounterclockwise index movement of the index plate as seen in FIG. 1,the device may be readily adapted for changeover for effecting indexmovements in the opposite direction.

What I claims as my invention is:

I. An index device comprising a frame, an index plate having peripheralindex notches, means supporting said plate for rotation about the indexaxis on said frame, an index pawl movable on said frame into and out ofindexing engagement with a sequence of notches on said plate, anoscillator mounted on said frame for oscillation about the index axis,abutment means acting between said frame and said oscillator andlimiting movement of said oscillator relative to said frame, a drivingpawl operatively connected to said oscillator and movable relativethereto into and out of driving relation with a notch on said indexplate, a separate independently movable pawl control member for each ofsaid pawls, a single actuator, and means operatively connecting saidactuator to said pawl control members and to said oscillator andoperable upon movement of said actuator in one direction from a firstposition to a second position determined by said abutment means toeffect timed operation of said pawl control members and said oscillatorto first engage said driving pawl in a notch on said index plate, thento disengage said index pawl from a notch on said index plate, andthereafter to couple said actuator and said oscillator together forsimultaneous movement and to move said oscillator and said index platethrough a distance determined by said abutment means to effect indexrotation of said index plate and operable upon movement of. saidactuator in the opposite direction from said second position to saidfirst position, to first engage said index pawl in a notch of said indexplate, then to retract said driving pawl from a notch in said indexplate, and finally to reversely move said oscillator to move saiddriving pawl into registration with a different notch of said indexplate.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, in which said oscillator comprises aplate mounted for rotation about the index axis of said device.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 in which the pawl control members arecams mounted on said oscillator, and links connecting said actuator tosaid cams to provide sequential operation thereon.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 in which one of said links has fixedpivot connections with said actuator and the cam which it controls, theother of said links having a lost motion connection to said actuator toprovide delay in movement thereof.

5. A device as defined in claim 4, in which the lost motion connectionto said other link comprises a pin and slot connection with saidactuator.

6. A device as defined in claim 5, said other link being pivotallyreceived in a recess in the pawl with which it is associated, the recessbeing dimensioned to have a surface engageable by said other link toprevent further movement between said one link and its cam.

oscillator to provide for determining the amount of index rotation ofsaid index plate.

9. A device as defined in claim 7 comprising a driver mounted forangular movement about the index axis of said device, adjustable meansfixedly coupling said driver to said oscillator, said driving pawl beingcarried by said driver.

1. An index device comprising a frame, an index plate having peripheralindex notches, means supporting said plate for rotation about the indexaxis on said frame, an index pawl movable on said frame into and out ofindexing engagement with a sequence of notches on said plate, anoscillator mounted on said frame for oscillation about the index axis,abutment means acting between said frame and said oscillator andlimiting movement of said oscillator relative to said frame, a drivingpawl operatively connected to said oscillator and movable relativethereto into and out of driving relation with a notch on said indexplate, a separate independently movable pawl control member for each ofsaid pawls, a single actuator, and means operatively connecting saidactuator to said pawl control members and to said oscillator andoperable upon movement of said actuator in one direction from a firstposition to a second position determined by said abutment means toeffect timed operation of said pawl control members and said oscillatorto first engage said driving pawl in a notch on said index plate, thento disengage said index pawl from a notch on said index plate, andthereafter to couple said actuator and said oscillator together forsimultaneous movement and to move said oscillator and said index platethrough a distance determined by said abutment means to effect indexrotation of said index plate and operable upon movement of said actuatorin the opposite direction from said second position to said firstposition, to first engage said index pawl in a notch of said indexplate, then to retract said driving pawl from a notch in said indexplate, and finally to reversely move said oscillator to move saiddriving pawl into registration with a different notch of said indexplate.
 1. An index device comprising a frame, an index plate havingperipheral index notches, means supporting said plate for rotation aboutthe index axis on said frame, an index pawl movable on said frame intoand out of indexing engagement with a sequence of notches on said plate,an oscillator mounted on said frame for oscillation about the indexaxis, abutment means acting between said frame and said oscillator andlimiting movement of said oscillator relative to said frame, a drivingpawl operatively connected to said oscillator and movable relativethereto into and out of driving relation with a notch on said indexplate, a separate independently movable pawl control member for each ofsaid pawls, a single actuator, and means operatively connecting saidactuator to said pawl control members and to said oscillator andoperable upon movement of said actuator in one direction from a firstposition to a second position determined by said abutment means toeffect timed operation of said pawl control members and said oscillatorto first engage said driving pawl in a notch on said index plate, thento disengage said index pawl from a notch on said index plate, andthereafter to couple said actuator and said oscillator together forsimultaneous movement and to move said oscillator and said index platethrough a distance determined by said abutment means to effect indexrotation of said index plate and operable upon movement of said actuatorin the opposite direction from said second position to said firstposition, to first engage said index pawl in a notch of said indexplate, then to retract said driving pawl from a notch in said indexplate, and finally to reversely move said oscillator to move saiddriving pawl into registration with a different notch of said indexplate.
 2. A device as defined in claim 1, in which said oscillatorcomprises a plate mounted for rotation about the index axis of saiddevice.
 3. A device as defined in claim 1 in which the pawl controlmembers are cams mounted on said oscillator, and links connecting saidactuator to said cams to provide sequential operation thereon.
 4. Adevice as defined in claim 3 in which one of said links has fixed pivotconnections with said actuator and the cam which it controls, the otherof said links having a lost motion connection to said actuator toprovide delay in movement thereof.
 5. A device as defined in claim 4, inwhich the lost motion connection to said other link comprises a pin andslot connection with said actuator.
 6. A device as defined in claim 5,said other link being pivotally received in a recess in the pawl withwhich it is associated, the recess being dimensioned to have a surfaceengageable by said other link to prevent further movement between saidone link and its cam.
 7. A device as defined in claim 1 comprisingadjustable abutment means acting between said actuator and saidoscillator to provide for initial relative movement between saidoscillator and actuator to provide for movement of said pawls prior tomovement of said oscillator.
 8. A device as defined in claim 7comprising adjustable abutment means acting between said frame andoscillator to provide for determining the amount of index rotation ofsaid index plate.